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“Who’s in charge of the sprogs?“ “Your favorite girl, Celeste.“ Durner grinned. Tombs had this affection for Celeste enthusiastically shared by her. When they met up, they wouldn’t hang around talking. More a hands on experience!
Naked flesh on flesh and recharging as Tombs had often muttered, their psyche.
“Well then, we better make sure my girl achieves her goal. She can score later with me, after we’ve made those b'stards come after us! Lets move out!“ “Flares?“ Tombs grabbed the end of the box, as Tonkins grabbed the handle on the other end.
“Quite a few by the weight of this lot!“ Flares screwed with the sensors around the base. Heat and movement detectors in particular. Set triggers and activated screens, across the control rooms, that pin pointed the origin point of where they had come from?
A major distraction and for those who were to discover why they had been deployed, that they had been distracted resulting in nothing less than rage.
Troops were active, the prearranged boarding party was enroute to them. Marshall Chau would not tolerate any mistakes.
He executed those who failed to keep the base secure. He had earlier in the day, taken two troopers from within the barracks and had them shot! For being, so he had made clear to the rest of the garrison. ‘Lax in their duties’.
An example of what the rest of them, could expect, if they messed things up tonight! Tombs was worried about the Scruts, Chau had also been more than aware of them. He had sent troopers to intercept one batch of them, that he had intel on!
Their interception would turn into a fire fight, inflicting on them, heavy casualites. He doubted that after that, he would see them active again for several days whilst they recovered, well some of them!
The problem with the flares, had been anticipated. However, the attack location was not. It was several miles from the base and the installation, controlled essential power railings, to the Citadel.
If that was interrupted or failed, his bosses would be looking in his direction. His hand rubbed his neck, he was not at ease with the thought of that resting on the block.
Rsajic tribes on the Russian steppes regularly used that as a means of executing the enemy. Not shooting them, they beheaded them. Barbaric and primitive. Yet some parts of the world had gone back to communal living, nomadic tribes. None moreso than some of the North African zones.
Mercenaries and the scum that appeared with them joining up with those who paid them the most. Chau had two notable Acfa working for him. Vicious b'stards who enjoyed torturing their victims or indulged in some paid work by him after he had raided and seized locals for questioning.
The ‘Beyond the stars’ craft had been kept a secret from the people in the Citadels, other than those chosen, to be in the know? The Elite. The rest of them, were lied to. Satellite maintenance crews, taking off to carry out routine maintenance, on the Sats and the space station?
“Send troops over, to take out the scum! Kill them on sight! No prisoners unless they are worth torturing.“
Hacker was in no mood tonight for trouble. The main boarding party was secure, ready to board and heading at this very moment towards the base. Keeping the scum occupied in fighting over the installation, would mean they weren’t active around the base.
It hadn’t crossed his mind, that with them preoccupied elsewhere, the base would be almost unprotected, with a minor, a VERY minor force; guarding it!
The transporter carrying the paasengers for the Symphony, had been diverted. Now seized and the transport taken away from them, they were herded into a containment cell and told to wait. NO HARM and it was emphasized, NO HARM, would come to any of them, if they did as they were told!
Their craft would be seized, the other craft being readied, would be available to them. Jerrick in charge of the passengers, had calmed them down. They had no choice, but accept the unfolding events. Jerrick had told Aleira, 'The passengers they put aboard the Symphony, had better pray, they did not meet up with the originals intended for its occupancy!'
Elsewhere Coulter’s family too were being held hostage. They, would NOT be released, until the Symphony had reached the outer rim. Several hours away. Coulter complied with their requests.
So far everything had gone to plan. Now it was up to Celeste. She could not, must not fail. “Onboard NOW!“ They filed onto the transporter and sat down. Minutes later and they were back on the original route to the base and the craft that awaited their arrival.
The attack, had been drawn out, vicious and bloody. Tombs had ensured the troopers were continuously having to face the barrage from the rebels. Attack, fall back, launch, fall back. So it went on.
The troopers were pinned down! Coms channels had been cleverly blocked by Sephren. Gavin had been helping Celeste when he received the news. “The Symphony is ready, for its new family.“
The guards at the site did not challenge them. They had no reason to. The boarding passes were legit, the transport unit as expected and Celeste, dressed appropiately as their escort. It had been a walk in the park for Celeste and Gavin!
Ten minutes, just ten minutes later, the Symphony lifted and launched itself into the clouds above them. An hour later they were in space.
Celeste had had a sizeable number of her militia on standby, just in case, there were any problems. Nothing! They turned to leave, Celeste somewhat relieved but at the same time tearful? This, would be the last time, she would ever see Serenia!
If she had felt like it was the end of the world. Her thoughts were about to be abruptly, interrupted.
All hell broke loose, as from the far side of the base appeared what Celeste knew all too well as Reclu or CLONES. Chau had entered the base, to watch the departure of the Symphony. That had not been problematic, nor raised concerns, until he saw the image of the one woman he had a hatred for. Celeste. The tunnel rat! What was that bitch doing here?
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